The NSW government has pledged to upgrade the South Coast rail line, which connects Sydney to Nowra, at an estimated cost of $6.8 billion. The work would be delivered over a decade. An immediate $621 million would support critical infrastructure, some of it already underway. The final stretch between Kiama and Bomaderry would be electrified, allowing more frequent services. Premier Chris Minns urged locals to judge the government on what it delivers, while the state heads to the polls in March.
The New South Wales government has promised a $6.8 billion upgrade to the South Coast rail line if re-elected next year. The plan includes electrifying the line between Kiama and Bomaderry, so passengers could travel from Sydney to Nowra without changing trains. Extra tracks and passing loops are also planned between Wollongong and Kiama. Planning is expected to start in 2027, with construction completed in the mid to late 2030s. The announcement follows the scrapping of a planned timetable overhaul on the line, which had drawn commuter backlash.
Severe thunderstorms are moving across eastern Australia, bringing warnings of damaging winds and heavy rain. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, with flash flooding possible. Wind gusts of up to 113km/h were recorded at Cabramurra in the Snowy Mountains. Queensland is forecast to be hardest hit, after 100mm to 200mm of rain fell in parts of the Wide Bay-Burnett region. Flood warnings are current in several parts of Queensland, including a major warning for the Mary River at Tiaro.
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A trailblazing Yuin elder, Aunty Ruth Simms, has been posthumously awarded a Doctor of Letters by the University of New South Wales. The ceremony was held in Nowra on the NSW South Coast. Dr Simms worked for half a century as an Aboriginal Education Officer in NSW public schools before she died aged 85 in September. Her daughter, Trudy Trindall, accepted the award on her behalf. Colleagues praised her legacy in local and national curriculum development.
The NSW government is procuring drone detection technology for prisons across the state. The move follows two alleged drone drug smuggling attempts on the south coast within a fortnight. Police arrested a 35-year-old man near South Coast Correctional Centre in Nowra on October 10. The Public Service Association of NSW wants corrections officers to have portable devices that force drones to land. Radio frequency detection and radar have been identified as the preferred technology.
Richard Morecroft, the veteran ABC newsreader, has died at 70 after a cancer diagnosis. The British-born Australian was known for his roles in Behind the News and Raising Archie, and later moved to the South Coast of NSW. He was actively involved in the Shoalhaven community, supporting arts and wildlife advocacy. Tributes have poured in from local organisations and community members, highlighting his generosity and contributions to the arts and wildlife.
